The Hindu : National : India objects to Bangladesh 'red alert'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

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National

India objects to Bangladesh 'red alert'

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, NOV. 25. The Indian High Commissioner's office in Dhaka has been asked to bring to the notice of the Bangladesh Government "strong'' reservations of the Border Security Force to "provocative'' reports appearing in a section of the Bangladeshi media that accused Indian security forces of pushing Bengali-speaking Indian Muslims into that country.

The media reports are believed to have been attributed to sources in the Bangladesh Rifles. Those appearing earlier this week talk of a "red alert'' being declared along the borders in view of the prevalent situation and an alleged build-up in BSF deployment along the border.

"Such misinformation is creating unnecessary panic among residents in Indian villages along the border and could have serious international repercussions. A `red alert' implies an outbreak of hostilities,'' the Additional Director General, BSF (East), S.I.S. Ahmed, told The Hindu here today. "The Union Home Ministry is aware of the situation.''

Illegal migrants

The Ministry has also been informed of BDR's persistent reluctance at accepting Bangladeshis who have entered India without proper documents during their handing over to BDR authorities, Mr. Ahmed said. "More than 10,000 such illegal immigrants are apprehended each year from different parts of the country after they enter India in search of jobs."

When BDR is approached to take them back there are inordinate delays in verification of nationality, BSF authorities claim. Though this issue has been raised at talks between officials of the Home Ministries of the two countries as well as at flag meetings between BSF and BDR little has been done to facilitate the return of arrested Bangladeshi immigrants, he said.

"On the contrary, BSF is projected by our counterparts as a brutal force, pushing Indian Muslims into Bangladesh," according to Mr. Ahmed.

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